cwc87

Al. I feel for you. I get one day off per week n I'm on the water someplace. I'm in the planning stages for my next trip now( maybe heading your direction). These rains are really helping the fish feel better. Thank you Mother Nature. !

Thanks for posting Mitch. This time of year paying attention to areas on our waterways where there is not public access and even areas where outfitters don't access is key to making a good trip an awesome trip!! All about pressure and access.

Thx Mitch for posting pic. I suck at it. Everything lined up for me to catch this fish Cloudy most of the day. No other fisherman on this stretch of river most importantly I had a few hours off work. Now, the catch. I only use my jet to get over the shoals and love trolling up through the holes. When I threw my lure to the log a legit 17 incher missed it three times before the 19 sucked it in and only got stuck by one hook. Fought like a tank This log lays in the middle of the river , only four feet deep But, any migrating fish probably swims right by and Always has a Biggin on it. Most fisherman will never hit it so I'm cool with these details. Nothing beats lipping a great ole Big Smallmouth !!!

The way the water temp been changing this spring the bigger fish are "slurping " my top water baits and if they miss it I use my follow up jig. And the fishing has been spotty at best but finally some of the spawn is winding down and the fish are moving around. With the extra snow last winter means nitrogen and the algae / water weeds are growing fast so I predict frogs, flukes and buzz baits to be tied on my arsenal every trip.

Wow that sucks. I was on Meramec today and a lady bank fishing had a LM on a stringer Would not of known she had one but her dog had the bass in its mouth. . I told her that season wasn't open. By the way it was near where the floater got shot. I think the warm windy weather and the fact that people are hungry means stupidly season is in!

The bass are spawning on the creeks. They are in the traditional spots Calm water , under logs. Base of root wads. I have been watching the water temp and its getting in the upper sixties late into the day. Just pray no washout floods to screw the bass fry up. I generally don't fish much until the spawn is over but when I do it's a one cast n a area and move on down river to find the next area. Just a report to let fishermen kno what's up.

Just for safety sake. There are some non runable riffles on the Meramec. These are solid rock bottoms that will eat your boat. Couple riffles down from hwy O One below birds nest A few around Meramec state park. Best float over riffles and have a photographic memory on running back upriver. FYI

Your good to go the river will b perfect by this weekend.

Bass resort on the courtois always has a turn out of customers, Freinds , and employees that start bout noon at Blount rd and float back to bass resort to the huge bomb fire Weather looks to b perfect this year! C u there.

My 02 cents on hair jigs. Less hair is sometimes a good thing Line weight and kind is important Cast ability especially if windy Jig weight so feel is critical ( water depth n temp) For me hair jigs were hard for me to be confident in but when low n clear conditions exist and after a school of bass see me float over them and when I cast back at that school they eat it is all the reasons fisherman should have one tied on this time of year.

Al, it has been way too long. If we keep getting moisture these two rivers should b a good time next year!!

My list starts close to home Upper black river Big creek Castor Sinking creek Maries Dry fork of Gnade Upper pomme Upper niangua Elk That's a start. A lot of water to do!!

Thanks for reply Jerry. Crawford county has four inches between steelville n Cuba and south of steelville a layer of ice then five to nine inches in spots. This is a blessing for our water table things were bone dry too long.

Thanks for reply Jerry. Crawford county has four inches between steelville n Cuba and south of steelville a layer of ice then five to nine inches in spots. This is a blessing for our water table things were bone dry too long.

Jerry has anyone caught any tagged fish in the lake? Only fished Clearwater two times first time about ten years ago we had 22lbs. Bag had two seven pounders. Next time was bout 8 years ago didn't do as well.

Top water

Last summer

MF used to be best kept spot around. No problem parking yet. I do chain my canoe up if I leave it unattended during shuttle. Put in at 47 floated to mammoth last of August. Seen five other wade fisherman ( one Sasquatch guy in float tube hole jumping) on a stinking Tuesday WoW. Three where minnow drowners. The MF has Too much pressure from catch n eaters. In 1998 I caught 99 smallies and 8 of them were 17 inchers. Just makes me sick! I don't see it improving unless better enforcement and the regs change.

Looks like meramec and water is up a bit kinda throwing me off with the water up Im thinking somewhere between indian springs up river or even above towards meramec springs. anyhow the water is hard to read with some gravel not exposed.

Guys I live in the middle of the meramec region and I see gigging boats going out all the time. There is alot of gigging going on in my area more so now than ever before. 20 years ago there was not near the amount of people gigging. I bet when they sell fishing license they could do a survey and find out a # of those who gig?? Granted yes there are alot of ethical giggers (Seth) but the newbies (young kids, women) can easily mistake a gamefish for a sucker! I know the MDC gets it and are listening and reading what we are saying. Everyone cant chill anymore and the whole gigging issue is coming to the forefront. The more the media and social media talks about it makes everyone aware. So many angles to handle the situation is very complicated to set forth future actions. For now, we see activity and signs of what is happening we must contact the right people but more IMPORTANTLY LET THE COUNTY PROSECUTORS KNOW HOW YOU FEEL. All citations go throught their hands and until we make those pay nothing will change!

Nice story Al So now that asian carp are creeping up our beloved rivers and gigging season is in I am curious how many are being gigged and where at?

Gavin is right on. I will give u a heads up the most populated strectch of smallmouth and floating traffic is the Blunt bridge down to Bass resort (buttsbridge) If u get a chance get on the water at the earliest light. Other stretches is from bass down to scotia (huzzah courtois confluence HWY e) and the Berryman bridge (HWY8 down to Blunt bridge) Good luck in your adventures Thanks for the kudos it is a challenge this time of year form most resort employees to keep upbeat because of season burnout.

LarryStl thanks for your business. Next time try the courtois it has a litle more technical canoeing spots and the fish are there with alot more habitat to hide in. HVR will put you over there too and even can spot your car where when your done you have it there. Your canoeing fishing skills will get there. It takes time to read the water and understand where the fish are holding that particular day. Or its just a challenge just to cover all fishable water. When its this time of year the fish have seen lots of lures and people so make extra long casts and be as stealth like as possible in your canoe. Cheers.

Come to huzzah valley we have half day trips that can allow u to b back in St. Louis Fish are biting. We open at 8 am. 800 367 4516

I was off work tuesday and wednesday at Huzzah Valley but, my co workers got the speargunners stopped by the missouri highway patrol and MDC agent tallent issued citations. Kudos goes out to the quick actions by those involved!